Nine games into the season and Bracknell Town are finally off the mark as they secured their points of the season despite being second best for large parts of the game.

Controversy reigned supreme however with the winner coming from substitute Paulo Cicero’s re-taken penalty late in the game before the visitor’s had an effort ruled out in injury time for offside.

The hosts opened the scoring in the sixth minute as Garry Sargeant finished from close range after great play down the left hand side by his strike partner Ben Paternoster.

Taunton responded well and quickly gained the upper hand with Alexis Piper volleying straight at goalkeeper Matt Skinner before Dan Pepperell’s acute drive was tipped over by Skinner.

The Robins’ struggled to create much as Sargeant’s first time shot at Lloyd Irish was the only real chance of any note following the goal.

You could sense a goal was coming for the Somerset side as Danny Lane’s drive was held by Skinner, while Shaun Anthony fired over when well placed and the equaliser duly came in the 25th minute with Anthony meeting a long throw to score with a fine overhead kick.

The remaining 20 minutes of the half petered out with no real chances of any note.

Manager Dave Tuttle made changes at half-time as he bought on James Williams-Richardson and Paulo Cicero for Martin Bradshaw and Nick Bateman, with Williams-Richardson moving to right back and defender Zac Gill thrust into a front three.

Cicero joined Joel Havermans and Ryan Hazell in midfield.

Straight from the re-start and Hazell’s cross-cum-shot was turned over for a corner with Gill firing at Irish from the resulting corner.

Taunton immediately went on the counter and Skinner was alert to save from Anthony.

Neil Bailey was stretchered off with a suspected fractured cheekbone following an aerial collision with Havermans and despite the vocal protests to send the midfielder off, referee Paul Redmond deemed the challenge fair.

This galvanised Taunton who took control once again and Lane sent an effort and captain Dave Stevens got in a timely block on Leon Simpson at the near post.

Mark Hayward had to head off his own goal-line as you sensed a goal for the visitors before Lane turned the game on its head.

Firstly, Havermans’ slip allowed Lane in, but he missed a near open goal.

Then at the other end after Gill had skipped along to edge of the penalty after riding two challenges, Lane’s outstretched leg upended the stand-in forward to earn the home side a penalty.

Cicero’s spot-kick was well saved by Irish, but Ben Newby’s clear encroachment meant a re-take and after more lengthy protests, Cicero stepped up again and made no mistake with his second attempt.

There was further insult to injury as Taunton had an injury-time effort disallowed before Kristian Miller shot straight at Skinner as Bracknell hung on for a victory they scarcely deserved.

After losing on Tuesday night while being the better side, Robins got the rub of the green and decisions as they now look to push their way up the table.

Next Saturday is a trip to Oxfordshire to play a strong North Leigh side with the Robins undoubtedly full of confidence.